“Sheriffs First” anti-gun-control bill in Indiana legislature
Last night, Josh Marshall noted the case of an Oregon sheriff who claims he will refuse to enforce any federal gun control laws. Marshall seemed surprised by this, writing: However that may be, random Sheriffs can’t judge and nullify federal…
Self-selecting polarization: a personal narrative
I’ve been interested in the latest discussion and research into the trend of self-selected polarization – especially as it relates to redistricting and gerrymandering – for a very egotistical reason: I’m considering doing it. When my wife (The Professor) was…
Indiana Reps Rokita, Stutzman oppose first round of relief for Sandy victims
Today, Congress approved the first round of relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy, which struck the east coast at the end of October. The bill passed 354-67. All 67 “no” votes came from Republicans. Indiana Republicans Todd Rokita (IN-4) and…
Race to the bottom: Michigan vs Indiana, as seen by The Daily Show
Sometimes, The Daily Show accomplishes in a 3-minute segment what a hundred blog posts can’t. Here, the crack reporting team at The Daily Show looks at Michigan’s new “right to work” bill, and what it means for competing with their…
Indiana jobs announcements, with a grain of salt
Yesterday, Governor Mitch Daniels and the CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Commission (IEDC) announced deals with 9 different companies to bring 2,500 jobs to the state over the next 6 years. About 1,500 of those jobs will come from…
Indiana Toll Road lease was bad deal for taxpayers
Last week, Leslie Widenbener wrote in the Louisville Courier Journal that Indiana officials are looking at options, including increasing the gasoline tax, to cushion a 25% drop in highway funding for the 2014-2015 budget cycle. Those revenue streams will total…
Stephen Colbert: Politicos & Paranoid Fantasies
Stephen Colbert on Rick Santorum’s conspiracy theories and the Senate rejecting the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (From the December 5, 2012 episode of The Colbert Report.) Partial transcript: And folks The three CHAs took of 10 habitants…
Conspiriocracy: government by conspiracy theory
The United States is no longer a nation governed by laws. Nor is it governed by men, nor by faith, nor by reason. (If it ever was the latter…) Today, we’re governed by conspiracy theories. One of the threads of…
Mitch Daniels knows why Mitt Romney lost
On Friday, Mitch Daniels offered his explanation for why Mitt Romney lost the election. “Governor Romney memorably discussed the 47% of Americans who, he said, are dependent on government and therefore would never vote for him.” The comments he’s referring…